GEORGETOWN AND THE FREEDOM EXPERIENCE
3.2 GEORGETOWN
3.2.2 A Concise History of Georgetown
On the 19thNovember 1851 Rev. James Allison purchased the farm Welverdient from Andries Pretorius, who went on to become the first President of the South African (Transvaal) Republic (University of Natal, 1951). The land was acquired in order to establish a new mission station and settlement for himself and his native converts (amakholwe), and was renamed Edendale (ibid). In 1855 Governor Sir George Grey gave Mr Allison financial assistance through a period of difficulty, and hence the portion demarcated town residential area, Georgetown, was named in his honour (ibid). By 1858 the farm was paid off, and in 1860 surveyed and subdivided (ibid).
Georgetown was laid out in Voortrekker grid pattern, where today many of the original 'European style' buildings still stand (Meintjes, 1988) in streets with typically colonial names such as Scott, Garden, and Gibb street.Itwas here that the first freehold land was acquired by native Africans in Natal and perhaps even in the country (Meintjes, 1988; Natal Museum, 1999). The native African converts who settled here under Allison's guardianship adopted a fundamentally European lifestyle, rejecting many of their traditional beliefs and practices
(Meintjes, 1988). These 'responsible, mission-educated Christians', were at one point, the major suppliers ofvegetables and maize for the Pietermaritzburg market (ibid). They showed substantial loyalty to the crown, and fought in support of the 'Great White Queen' at both Bushman's Neck and Isandhlwana (ibid). Despite these actions Georgetown was continuously refused borough recognition, and the community also suffered legislative measures introduced to encourage African cultivators into the labour market, as they were becoming too competitive in the retail market (ibid).
Georgetown also holds a strong history in the struggle for liberation/equal rights, dating back to 1888, when the Funamalungelo (the society of those who seek rights) was formed (ibid).
Since then Georgetown has played an important role through recent history with Richard Msimang, who wrote the ANC's original constitution, and his brother Henry Selby Msimang, a founding member ofthe ANC, Liberal Party, and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), both coming from the area (Natal Museum, 1999). Nelson Mandela made his last speech as a free man near Georgetown before his arrest and imprisonment a year later ( ppA, 1998).
3.2.3 Community Dynamics
In order to begin understanding the dynamics within Ward 22 and Georgetown, it is important to refer again to the history ofthe area. As was indicated above, the ownership patterns within Georgetown have a unique flavour, being one of the earliest places in South Africa where 'natives' acquired freehold land. This history has created a situation of division between established land owners and newer arrivals to the area. These newer community members having arrived as a result of political violence elsewhere, and are mostly renting property or are part of an informal settlement (Mngadi, 2000, pers. comm.). The established property owners, referred to as 'the originals', are apparently considered conservative by the newer members ofthe community and are seen as disinterested in issues ofdevelopment within Ward 22 (Mngadi, 2000, pers. comm.). This has led to a situation where the Ward 22 Development Committee consists of mostly newer community members (ibid). The Land Owners Association is a body which seemingly protects the interests of'the originals' (ibid). There has apparently been conflict between these two organizations, which the urbanization unit is attempting to resolve through trying to increase communication between them (ibid).
There are other groups which seemingly exist at a community level. These are church groups, a youth group, a woman's group, a business group, and an ANC/ACP/COSATU Alliance office (Mngadi, 2000, pers. comm.; Msimang, 2000, pers. comm.). These community organizations exist on various levels, with their personal agendas making for a complex situation which may not easily be negotiated. Some represent the community of Georgetown itself, others Ward 22, and still others the entire Edendale community. These diverse groups have all been listed here as they were given as groups which represent the local community.
At present communication regarding community development issues, occurs between communities and local government through a number of channels. The councillor sits ex offiCio on the development committee (Msimang, 2000, pers. comm.). He then communicates the desires and objectives of the community to local government. Local government also invites the councillor to any meetings in which development in the ward he represents is discussed (Haswell, 2000, pers. comm.). Any community member is also invited to attend standing committee meetings (ibid).
The urbanization unit of the TLC currently holds a Development Committee forum once a month (Mngadi, 2000, pers. comm.). Five members from each development committee are invited to attend. Broad issues affecting the community are discussed at this forum, including crime, poverty, child support, etc. (Mngadi, 2000, pers. comm.). Capacity building workshops are held once a month with the urbanization unit. All members of the Development Committees are invited to attend these programmes. Narrower issues, such as housing, project management, health, Local Economic Development, and how the TLC works, are workshopped at these meetings (Mngadi, 2000, pers. comm.). The above process is considered inefficient by the TLC and is due to change (ibid). The two meetings are to be combined in order to reduce costs in time and money. It has been noted that as it now stands some development committees do not attend, due to ward related problems, and some development committees, including Ward 22 at present, do not function particularly well (Mngadi, 2000, pers. comm.).
The community dynamics within Edendale and Georgetown are complex. The socio-political component of the feasibility study would need to examine these more closely.
3.2.4 Potential of Area and Possible Linkages with the Freedom Experience
Research conducted by the Natal Museum (1999) recognizes the following six themes for possible inclusion in the Freedom Experience:
1. The Bushmen Raids, during the period (± 1850 - 1870) Khoisan or 'Bushmen' conducted raids onfarmers stocks in the Zwartkop and Cedara areas, North West of Pietermaritzburg.
2. Early Nguni Chiefdoms, in the early Igth Century, prior to the Zulu kingdom, many Nguni chiefdoms, such as the Zondi, Nyavu, and Wushu chiefdoms, occupied the areas surrounding Pietermaritzburg.
3. Voortrekker,Pietermaritzburg was established by Voortrekkers in the late 1830's, and buildings such as the Church of the Vow and Voortrekker House are monuments to this era. Georgetown was afarm once belonging to a Voortrekker leader, Andries Pretorious.
4. British ColonialRule,from the 1840's to 1910 Pietermaritzburg was the colonial capital ofNatal and enjoyed the associatedjudiciary status. Pietermaritzburg boasts many buildings from this era, including the City Hall and Colonial building.
Georgetown has a character combining elements ofboth Voortrekker and British colonial periods.
5. Bhambatha Rebellion, in 1906, in reaction to the poll tax ' imposed by the government in 1905, an uprising occurred during which an estimated 3000 Africans died.
6. Resistance against racial injustices and Apartheid, many sites in and around Pietermaritzburg exist, relating to this struggle which occurred from the late1fj"
Century to late 2(jh Century. These include a statue to Mahatma Gandhi whose life's dedication to non violent freedom was said to have begun as a result of his being thrown from a train in Pietermaritzburg station. There are also various sites relating to those who participated in the struggle against apartheid.
Georgetown has been identified as significant across themes three, four and six.
Buildings linked with Andries Pretorius, from his former farm Welverdient, could be used as structures of interest for the theme on Voortrekker occupation, highlighting an interesting
transition of this land into the hands of 'native' African converts. A project championed by Arnafa aKwaZulu- Natali, and involving the Voortrekker Museum and local community, is currently underway to repair and functionally preserve a building supposedly constructed by Andries Pretorius, known in the community as 'Potolozi', which stands on the grounds ofthe current school (Amafa aKwaZulu- Natali, steering committee meeting for 'Potolozi', 1999).
Discussion in the meetings to date has included mention of using local community members to assist in the repair of the building, whilst possibly simultaneously receiving training in the techniques used for repairing these old buildings. The idea would be to use this approach until community members are confident enough to take over any contemporary projects, at which stage the external contractor would withdraw (Arnafa aKwaZulu- Natali, steering committee meeting for 'Potolozi', 1999).
One of the only two memorials to native African people in the city stands in the grounds of the Georgetown Methodist Church (Natal Museum, 1999).Itis interesting as it commemorates the native Africans who fought against the Zulu at Isandhlwana (ibid). The church is also of interest as it signifies the Christian reverence practised by theamakholwa (Christian converts), and was built by them out of clay bricks made on the banks of the local stream (Natal Museum, 1999).
The Georgetown graveyard holds the remains ofHenry Selby Msimang, a founding member ofthe ANC, Liberal Party, and Inkatha, who was born in Georgetown (Natal Museum, 1999), as well as other significant community members. The Wadley Stadium was the site of many political rallies during the 1980's and early 1990's by the UDF, COSATU, IFP, and ANC (ibid). In addition to these sites there is the Thuthuka Hall which was used as refuge for those in the 7 Days War of 1990 (ibid). The old buildings, with their particular architectural style and Victorian cottages, the Voortrekker grid street formation with its distinctly British street names, and the unique history of this area, could possibly be a powerful draw card.
These, and many other physical attractions within Georgetown, open a window ofopportunity to developing tourism within Georgetown. The local community could be included in a number of different ways. Guides for an historical tour could be employed, and local artists could supply a local community craft centre. Community members could also contribute
through inclusion in development activities, such as painting walls, repairing buildings and in idea generation. If the initiative becomes popular, spin-off activities in entertainment and services could be provided as the project diversifies. These could take the form of bed and breakfast establishments, shebeens, restaurants, live music, dancing, story telling etc. In addition to these, links could be made with other local business sectors such as with the taxi operators and local stores. All the above could, of course, boost local SMME development.
The incredible academic wealth ofthe area has been highlighted above, which lends itself to the establishment of educational tours for both local and international students and scholars.
The organizers could possibility consider some kind of community-based freedom festival once a year on Freedom Day, or a Heritage Day celebration.
Communities can generally be quite efficient at organizing themselves into structures which could be used to enhance development in an area. This mobilization of the community can, however, depend on the ability ofthe local authority to ensure that the basic skills are evident in the community, and that they are adequately included in the processes proposed for tourism development activity in their area.
The private sector is often considered to appear in the form of big business or large tourism development. With regard to the current research the private sector is more likely to appear in the form of SMME developments or even communal markets and informal traders, most, ifnot all, from the local community.Itis highly improbable that large scale external investors will develop in the case study area. External private sector organizations, ifthey get involved, will almost definitely come in the form of independent tour operators offering guided tours of the tourism product.